MANKATO, Minn. — Bethany Lutheran (2-2) came out firing to open Tuesday's matchup, using a fast-paced offensive surge and stifling defense to grab early control against the Saint Mary's men's basketball (0-4) team as the Cardinals fell to the Vikings 103-74.
The Vikings wasted no time setting the tone as the Cardinals found themselves in a 15-5 deficit just five minutes into the game.
The Cardinals worked to settle in as they faced challenges with shooting efficiency, going 10-for-26 from the field. Josh Wohlers provided a spark midway through with consecutive three-pointers, cutting the deficit to 22-17 at 11:42.
Saint Mary's kept responding to each punch thrown with a pair of midrange makes from Jackson Harvey and a driving finish from Khai Branham at 34-22 at the 4:30 mark, but Bethany Lutheran's consistent defensive pressure forced several early Cardinal turnovers, aiding the Vikings push ahead for a 50-29 lead at the half.
Looking for an answer, the Cardinals struggled to convert at the rim early, missing several layups while the Vikings capitalized with points at the line and on the offensive glass.
The Cardinals fought to close the gap in the second half with a notable offensive effort led by Harvey and Reid Weckwerth. Harvey's jumper at 19:26 and Weckwerth's three-point play at 17:19 helped cut into the Vikings lead temporarily. Despite these efforts, the Vikings scoring from beyond the arc kept the home team in front.
The Cardinals scored 40 points in the paint and received 25 points from their bench, but they were unable to overcome the Vikings 17 three-pointers. The Cardinals managed 45 points in the second half, but it was not enough to close the gap.
The half concluded with the Vikings maintaining their lead, ending the game with a 103-74 victory over the Cardinals.
Weckwerth led the team with 16 points, making 6-of-11 field goal attempts. Wohlers contributed 11 points, converting 3-of-4 shots from beyond the arc. Khai Branham added 8 points and dished out one assist. Abraham Kamara facilitated the offense with five assists and recorded four rebounds.
The Cardinals continue their stretch of nonconference games hosting Crown College this Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
